I read health information online—can I trust it? (8 April 2024)

Summary

Lots of helpful information about health and medical science is available on the internet, often found via search engines and social media. However, some online health information is false and misleading—this is called health misinformation. Health misinformation can be harmful and can be hard to recognise, as the information may appear to come from an official or safe source.

This article by US-based doctor Kelly Johnson-Arbor provides advice on how to recognise health misinformation, where misinformation comes from and why it can be harmful. The author goes on to explain ways to look for reliable health information.

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